Life Happens but Embry Encourages Adult Learners to Persevere

by Amber Phillips

Owensboro, KY (03/22/2019) — As a non-traditional adult student Julie Embry knows first-hand that "life happens". She also knows that life and fear can be significant obstacles to overcome when returning to college.

"My first priority is to make sure that every student who comes through my program is successful, we are here for them." Embry, now a Medical Information Technology (MIT) instructor and program coordinator at Owensboro Community & Technical College, graduated from the MIT program in 2014. After graduating with an associate in arts degree in, Julie worked and gained experience as a medical coder, medical coding auditor, and tutor to students across the U.S looking to enter the field.

"I decided to get a degree in general studies, because at the time I was not exactly sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to help people." Working in the healthcare field, even in roles behind the scenes has allowed Embry, and others like her, to have a direct impact on patient care, from the time a patient arrives at a physician's office until they return home. Medical coding professionals have an impact, beginning with chart preparation, following up with physicians to translate their diagnosis and procedures into coding, sending this code to insurance, and finally patient billing and questions.

For the first time in history, the healthcare industry has surpassed manufacturing and retail as the nation's largest employer, and this trend in growth is not expected to slow. The majority of new healthcare jobs is not in clinical roles, but in administration and management, this compounds the growing need for professionals in the Medical Information Technology and Administrative Office Technology areas. Embry, encourages anyone interested in pursuing or transferring to this field to meet with an advisor, ask questions, get information, and make sure that it is a good fit for you.

Embry described her greatest obstacle throughout her education as fear. The fear of returning to college as a non-traditional student, wondering if she would be smart enough, good enough, or even able to complete her degree. Embry described many of her students as adult learners looking for something new, people who have worked in the healthcare field, but are now looking to move behind the scenes, or work remotely from home after gaining the needed experience. No matter the fear or obstacles that students may experience, Julie encourages them give it a shot and added, "it can take you anywhere you want to go. And as an instructor I want to help show them they can become everything they ever hoped they could be."

With a combination of help from advisors and instructors, who were available to answer questions and who were always willing to reach out, Embry's experience as a student at OCTC is one she is grateful for.

"Life happens and the people at OCTC understand that and do an amazing job of helping you through it. With my degree, I get to help others on a daily basis as an instructor. I get to watch their dreams come true" said Embry.

For Embry and all the faculty and staff at OCTC, that is the greatest benefit being at OCTC..."student success really is our success". Hear Embry's story in her own words here.

For more information about the Medical Information Technology Program, please contact Julie Embry, program coordinator, at 270-686-4593 or julie.embry@kctcs.edu.

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